The D-Backs designated a first baseman Pavin Smith for the assignment, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Rookie player Ryan Waldschmidt he will be recalled from Triple-A Reno to take his place on the active roster.
That could mark the end of nearly a decade in the organization for Smith, who the D-Backs selected with the #7 overall pick in 2017. The left-handed batter showed flashes offensively but ultimately didn’t provide enough from the starting spot. Smith hasn’t topped the 11 home runs or 27 doubles he compiled in his big league debut in 2021.
Smith worked his way up from Triple-A over the next few seasons. Aside from minor league rehab assignments, he has been in the big leagues since August 2024. Smith hit nine homers with a .270/.348/.547 batting line over 60 games that season, but that promising outing proved short-lived. His strikeout rate rose the next year, though a jump in his average on balls in play led to a solid .258/.362/.434 slash in 288 plate appearances.
That was enough for the D-Backs to roll with Smith as the first-team tight end this year. They were trading Josh Naylor at the deadline and focus their offseason resources on pitching. Smith would split time with both Tyler Locklear or a signed free agent Carlos Santana in the beginning. That didn’t work. Locklear spent the rest of the season in Triple-A, while Smith and the relieved Santana both struggled and were injured early in the season.
Smith was down from April to early June. He underwent surgery in mid-April to remove loose tissue from his left elbow. Smith has been hitless since his return, hitting .141 with one homer in 28 games. He has a league average .241/.325/.394 batting line over 1600 plate appearances over seven seasons.
Arizona’s first team has been the worst in MLB thus far. Ildemaro Vargas he has been one of the league’s least productive hitters since hitting 24 games to start the season. Rookies Jose Fernandez again It’s James Groover struggle with limited playing time.
The D-Backs first baseman has a .210/.253/.303 slash line across 366 plate appearances. Their most obvious area to deal with is when they buy last time, preferably with a left-handed bat. Cincinnati housing Nathaniel Lowe would seem like an obvious target given his $1.75MM base salary. Is Clemens, Gavin Sheets again Jake Burger a few others may be commercially available.
Waldschmidt, Arizona’s leadoff hitter, hit his second pitch of the season. He struggled to get consistent contact in his first MLB appearance. Waldschmidt has hit well against Triple-A arms and has been hitting well since being picked up in mid-June. The D-Backs likely won’t bring him back to play on a regular basis. He should be listed every day in left or center field, rocking one of them Max Kepler or Tommy Troy on the bench.
The D-Backs have five days to trade Smith or place him on waivers. He is playing with $2.25MM in arbitration salary, about $950K of which is unpaid. Smith is just shy of five years of service time and would lose the rest of his salary if he opts for free agency, so he would likely accept a Triple-A assignment if he is not claimed off waivers.
